The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-17
LIFE IN THE REFORM SCHOOL
The Daily Habits and Training of In
diana's Imprisoned Juveniles.
Marching to Meals Behind Band of Music
in Military Style-Various Kinds Of
Work Required of the Boys.


violators Of law. but there are comparatively few
Indianapolis people who ever visited the institu-
tion or know much of its workings. The build
lngs stand upon high bluff overlooking the town
Of Plainheld and much of the surrounding
country. The grounds artistically laid out
and are exceedingly well kept. Immediately adj
jacent to the driveway a commodious green
house. filed with rare blooming plants, in charge
of an experienced florist After climbing two
flights Of steps and passing a squirting fountain,
with gold fishes darling in the basin, the plat
of level ground, containing several acres, upon
which the buildings are located, Is reached. The
main building lie large. four story brick struct
nre, and is the residence of the families OF the
Buperin tendent and officers. It also contains the
Office OF the clerk. G. w. Lawrence, very court
eous gentleman who is always attentive to visit
ors Callers are admitted at any time of day. Sur
rounding the main building, at q respectable dis
lance, in the form of q square, are the twelve
family buildings in which the inmates make
their home.
The buildings have nothing Of the appearance
of penal institution, being OF a residence-like
architecture. In fact it is notable that there is
no barrier to prevent escapes. as is perhaps
imagined by some. except the strict vigilance of
the officers in charge. The idea that the school
is verltable prison is erroneous The in
mates have all the advantages and are granted
the pleasures accorded in any well-regulated
family The discipline is necessarily in some
respects rigid. The outcasts and criminal youths
who find home at the institution, have, with
probably few exceptions received religious
training prior to their entrance to the school.
An almost entirely new method of training
and governing has been exercised over the in
mates during the superintendency of Prof T. j.
Charlton. The school is consistently mild in it's
treatment of inmates. When boy is received
at the institution he is first taken to the bath
house, which ia conveniently arranged where be
isfdivested of his clothing and after thorough
scrubbing, he is dressed in the common uniform
OF the school, which Is coarse quality of jeans
OF the blue color; cap Of the military style and
heavy, substantial shoes. His old suit is placed
In the clothing room, where il awaits the retire
ment Of any one from the institution who may
choose TO take it. The boy is then. according to
age and character, placed In one OF the several
families presided over by an officer, commonly
known as house-father.
There are at present 5s5 boys at the school
This is a decrease OF 80 since the first of March,
which in accounted for by the fact that though
many of the number earned their release, they
were not permitted to leave during the winter
months, on account of the scarcity of work. but
were sent out in early spring, when work was
plenty. When boy receives what is called his
honor and IL discharged from the institution, he
Is still under the control of the school, and has
report
aud occupation. until he is twenty-one years of
age. Should he fail to do this, his whereabouts
10 ascertained by the superintendent, his arrest
is ordered, and the boy Is returned to the school
One Of the most interesting features intro
duced by the present SUPERINTENDENT Is the mill
tary discipline given the boys. Every duty is
accomplished with the utmost precision and
order. The boys are marched, headed by a
band OF music, to and from all meals and work
A misstep unnecessary unbepdng from
military bearing, is met with reprimand by
the officer in charge.
The religious training of the boys is no way
neglected. The chapel is located in a beautiful
part of the grounds west of the main building.
It's capacity has recently been enlarged oy the
GENTLY large for the ocys and officers. making
the hall very inconvenient for the holding of
any entertainment or on an occasion when visi-
tors may be present new chapel was one of
the contemplated improvements by the trustees.
but the failure of the necessary appropriation
to be granted will compel them to defer the en-
terprse. j. @. Blake. the secretary of the
Board Of Trade of this city is the chaplain Of
the school, He is very popular among the boys.
He 10 the confdant and moral adviser of all the
boys He makes IL his duty TO know every boy
history and Future expectations.
On each Sunday. church service and Sabbath
school exercises are held In the chapel, attended
by both boys and officers. Chaplain Blake is
often aided in conducting the devotional exer-
cises by Christian inmates, several OF whom have
organized and established \. nj. @. A. society,
which holds regular meetings. from which the
mem bers derive much spiritual benefit and con-
ISOLATION.
A large hall, we'll fitted with desks. charts,
black boards and all the accessories for success
fully carrying a school. is in charge of an ex-
perienced principal and corps Of assistants. A
library, embracing several thousand volumes,
the works OF standard authors Of Juvenile litera-
ture, 10 in the main building, where, at proper
hours, the boys may read. Though 1t can hardly
be said that the inmates. during their stay in
the institution. learn anv particular trade, yet
they certainly acquire habits of industry, and
are encouraged to be thrifty and honest. Tai
loring is one Of the requirements of the school
The clothing OF the inmates is all made up by
tailor. This saves annually a large expense In
the bakery under the watchful eye of German
for bread and cakes. Until few
nonths ago, chair factory was one
of the features of the school, but the
work was found TO be too combining and I'M
healthy for the boys. and it was abandoned. One
of the most dreaded and iaborious departments
of the institution is the wash-hou and laun-
dry t. Is here where all the washing and iron
ing for the SIS boys and forty officers Ia done
Whenever an inmate becomes unruly he is sent
enced to the wash house for a certain length of
time
The institution is furnished with sll the mod
ern conveniences Among the latest improve
ments in this direction 10 the lighting of the
school and grounds with manufactured gas.
Supt Charlton finds that 10 Is much cheaper
than any other light A well-arranged system
of water-works also furnishes the water supply.
A little more than year ago the institution
completed one or the nnest barns In Indiana at
a cost of about ss. 600. All the brick for the
immense structure was burned on the farm by
boys. and IL was their labor that did much OF
the building.
The farm consists Of 225 acres and all of the
work upon IL is done by the boys. A large patch
of water-melons has in store great future inter
est and pleasure for the school The farm, how
ever, is mainly appropriated to the raising of
corn and oats. The oats crop is already harvested
and il very large. while the corn has received its
final piowing, and from indications, the crop
will be more thar average yield.
Did Mr.. ssaa-ge Gould Skin Uncle Cyrus?
New York Truth.
am told. and the authority is very csose to
the principals In tho transaction. that it was
neither Mr.. Jay Gould nor Mr. Cyrus w. Field
who engineered the little transaction that cost
the latter OF, 900 900. 1t young Mr. George
Gould who thought IL all out and fixed it all up,
while his father was away yachting for his
health. He did not dare. however, to take the
responsibility on his own shoulders of striking